CSM Directory

Biography:

As a senior leader of learning at Wildern School, I am involved in the professional development of teachers in a number of ways. I facilitate the Aspiring to Leadership Programme open to all schools in our MAT; a key component being the one to one coaching of participants. I also coach teachers who have taken on new areas of responsibility. With regards to whole staff training, I deliver programmes both internally and to Hampshire schools and colleges on such pedagogical areas as Oracy and Literacy. I am also the English subject lead for the Wildern Partnership SCITT and design and deliver subject knowledge days as well as providing coaching feedback on classroom practice.

Coaching Experience:

I have been involved in coaching colleagues for several years. Chosen to undertake a coaching course around 10 years ago, I received external training on the Grow Model before putting in place a coaching programme at the school. The programme run for a couple of years before being replaced with a more bespoke model. Over the last few years I have received regular coaching training from an experienced and highly qualified coach, and been called upon to use my coaching skills with colleagues at very different stages of their careers, including early career teachers as well as colleagues taking their next steps in school leadership. I have also worked with senior colleagues on developing a more coaching orientated approach to the performance management system, including modelling to teachers how to deliver coaching feedback. As the English lead for a School’s Centre Initial Teacher Training programme, and facilitator of an Aspiring to Leadership programme, delivering coaching feedback is at the heart of my practice.

Core values, style and approach:

The main core values that underpin my coaching revolve around a genuine commitment to help people think more clearly and confidently. A coaching conversation should be an opportunity for the coachee to really talk and reflect. I believe that building trust and rapport with your coachee is integral to the success of the coaching conversation as well the coachee recognising your authenticity in helping them make choices. It is crucial that as a coach you remain open and curious, avoiding the temptation to diagnose a problem and solve the issue. I was inspired years ago by Nancy Kline's assertion that the quality of our attention determines the quality of others’ thinking. Through powerful listening and, of course, powerful questions, the coachee should begin to take ownership of the problem or situation. I continue to develop my listening skills by being alert to patterns emerging in the coachee’s responses and to their use of language, metaphor and body language. A key element of my coaching approach is to encourage my coachee to move towards a realisation that they can take action. The GROW model is therefore a very useful tool in structuring the coaching conversation and one that I return to time and time again.